Union: Half of hospitals have a 15-year-old machine

UP TO half of the nation’s hospitals have diagnostic equipment which is past its recommended sell-by date, according to the union representing the majority of the country’s radiographers and radiation therapists.

Michelle Monaghan, chair of SIPTU’s national executive of radiographers and radiation therapists, said hospitals are continuously looking for upgraded equipment but it was provided on an ad-hoc basis.

“It’s done on a crisis management basis, it’s not done proactively, or planned, which it should be,” she said.